Ayako Uehara of Japan opens with 68 at Royal Birkdale for early lead at Women's British

Published February 05, 2015

Ayako Uehara of Japan got her one mistake out of the way early and opened with a 4-under 68 to lead the Women's British Open on Thursday.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis played in the same group as Uehara and shot 71 in what might be the easiest conditions all week at Royal Birkdale. U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie struggled to keep the ball in play and shot 75.

Uehara made bogey on the opening hole, ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch and then was flawless on the back nine as the wind started to pick up. She made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th hole and finished with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Morgan Pressel relied on a great round of putting for a 70.

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https://www.foxnews.com/sports/ayako-uehara-of-japan-opens-with-68-at-royal-birkdale-for-early-lead-at-womens-british